St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-16
FRIENDS OF COMMERCE.
They Meet at New York and Have
Big Banquet.
THE TOASTS AND SPEECHE,
Joseph Chamberlain Among the Guests
---The Presidents Letter Of
Regret.

dinner of the chamber of commerce of
the state of New York was held tonight
at DelmOnicO's, which was handsomely
festoOned with smilax, evergreens and
flags of all nations. Covers were laid
for So. The guests of the evening in
cluded Secretary of the Treasury Fair
child, Secretary of the Interior Lamar,
British Fisheries Commissioner Joseph
Chamberlain, Mayor Hewitt, Hon. Carl
SchurZ, Gen. SchOtield, Hon. S. S. Cox,
Gen. Horace Porter, Chauneey NJ. De-
pew, Whitelaw Reid, and Andrew Car
negie. After three hours had been
given to the discussion of the menu,
President Smith raped for order
and spoke briefly. He referred to
the statement of distinguished
Western senator in the last congress
that the New York chamber was ian
old institution i'll moribund state"
and that were he present he would
think it physically alive. at least. The
speaker continued by saying the cham
Der had been charged with meddling
too much in national affairs. There
were subjects ON which it had given eX-
preston to its opinions and would do so
the need of work in New York harbor;
the necessity of strong navy and build
ing up large commercial marine. The
following letters were then read:
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Washington,
Nov. 15.-MeSSrS. Henry Hentz, Charles
Watrous, and Others, Committee, ETC.:
Gentlemen: l have received your invi
tation to attend the annual banquet of
the chamber of commerce of the state
of New York on the evening of the 18th
inst. 1t would certainly give me great
pleasure to be present on that occasion
and meet those who, to great extent,
have in charge the important business
interests represented i'll your asSOcla-
ton. | am sure, too, that l should de-
rive profit as well as pleasure from
such meeting. Those charged
agement of their government can
not fail to enhance their use
fullness by familiarity with business
conditions and intimacy with business
men-since good government has no
more important mission than the Stimu
lation ard protection of the activities of
the country. This relation between
government and business suggests the
thought that the members of such as
SOciatiOnS as yours owe to themselves
and to all the people of the land
thoughtful discharge of their political
obligations, guided by their practical
knowledge of affairs to the end that
there may be impressed upon the adj
ministratiOn of our government bust
ness character and tendency free from
the diversion of passion and unmOved
by sudden gusts of excitement.
But the most wholesome purpose of
their political action will not be accom-
pliShed by an inSiStence upon their eX-
elusive claims and selfish benefits, re-
CARELESS of the welfare of the people at
large. Interdependence is SO fully an
element in our national existence that
patriotic and generous heed to the gen
eral good seems to best SubServe every
particular interest. | regret that my
official duties and engagements prevent
the acceptance of your courteous inyi-
tation; and expressing the hope that
the banquet may be most enjoyable
and interesting occasion to those pres
ent, am very truly yours,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
JOHN SHERMAN.
'sMansfeld, Ohio, Oct. 31.-Charles
Watrous, ESQ.,, and Others-Gentlemen
Your very kind invitation to attend the
10th annual banquet of the chamber of
commerce at DelmOnicO'S on Tuesday
evening, the 18th of November, is re-
ceived. regret very much that en-
gagementS already made will keep me
in Ohio until after the date of your
banquet. You have my hearty good
wishes, and will always have my CO.
operation in the general objects pro-
posed by your organization. Perhaps the
most important subject for the immediate
future is the extension of our commerce,
especially into Mexico and the South
American states. The enormous devel-
Opment of our internal industry has
now made it necessary to seek foreign
markets for our surplus productions.
The most hopeful field for such opera
lions is the growing demands of the
American continent for many articles
that the United States, better than any
other country, can furnish them. l am
with sincere respect, very truly yours,
JOHN SHERMAN.
Gov. Hill also sent letter of regret.
The toast, 1.-The President" was
drunk and
SECRETARY LAMAR
responded. President Smith, in intro
ducing him. referred to his probable
coming elevation to the supreme court
bench and added: 1--WE are under OBJ
legations to Secretary Lamar for adopt
ing the suggestion of the chamber of
commerce in regard to the Bland silver
bill" Secretary Lamar, on rising, was
greeted with tumultuOuS applause. lie
said: Il must confess myself surprised
in responding to this toast. There is
another embarrassment. l have been
recently so closely related with the
president that | found myself asking
him what | should say. Said he: Re
mind the gentlemen that the two great
questions were a national representative
of the great country here and national
commerce which should represent the
United States. The gentlemen should
exact the exercise of the same qualities
which enabled them to
ELEVATE THE COMMERCE
of their proud metropolis Let me
offer volunteer toast: TO the gentle
men of the chamber of commerce, held
in high estimation in all the cities Of
every part of the United States L
know that | can add nothing to your
knowledge. l am only sure that you
could have summoned no one whose
feelings are so touched by the assembly
before me. What scene meets one as
one gazes upon this splendid country.
From Labrador to the Rio Grande, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific there lies the
splendor of wealth and the quietude of
peace. Timber, gold, iron, mex
haustible; countless herds of
cattle; looms humming beneath
the spirit of steam; all moving to the
acme of industrial activity. Where,
despite the wealth of all these, can you
find more activity, more life, more pur-
pose than in the halls of commerce,
which enriches and crowns the nations
of the earth. think that our foreign
commerce is not so declining that heroic
measures are necessary. In fact think
that instead of declining it is increaS-
ing. | think that the United States is
now contesting with Great Britain the
supremacy of the commerce of the
earth. But American tonnage is de-
creasing." After showing its rise and
en- - 1901 ho coid. k.No r.ondnr